Week 18 in Major League Soccer has already gotten off to a bang. Last night’s 3-1 thrashing in Giant’s Stadium by LA over New York probably set the tone for what this weekend should be like.

The tone was set early and often by LA with Landon Donovan really showing just how good he can be for LA and for MLS. I think the game showed us more about how good LA can be in the second half of the season because of how Bruce Arena has built this club too. Still I won’t get too overly gitty about this win, even if it does move them into third place. It was a win in a place they hadn’t won at in a while but it was a win over a team that showed absolutely no heart. Really can’t get excited just yet about how LA is, a lot of soccer left to play this season.

But enough of last night, time to focus on the weekend ahead. Only five games to discuss this weekend. Four games on Saturday and one lone match on Sunday. All games surprisingly are inter-conference battles.Dallas, Seattle and KC are all off this week.

Saturday:

Houston Dynamo – at – Toronto FC:

Houston will get the bulk of their roster back after last week’s game in Seattle. I don’t expect the turf to be a real factor as Houston looked very good in the loss last week at Qwest. Toronto had a solid week last time out in San Jose. But that was against a Quakes side that is pretty terrible no matter where they are playing. Houston is far better and play with a lot more passion than the Quakes do. I see Brad Davis stepping up to get guys like Kai Kamera involved. But in the end it comes down to defense and Houston gets both Bobby Boswell and Geoff Cameron back for this one. No question their defense is better and more physical than Toronto’s. The Reds will battle behind Dwayne De Rosario’s fire to play his old side but it won’t be enough.

WVH Prediction: Houston 2, Toronto 1

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Real Salt Lake – at – Columbus Crew:

I still have trouble figuring out RSL out on the road here. I think they do have the talent to stay competitive in the west but every time out on the road they come up slow and flat. They absolutely cannot do that in Columbus, where the Crew have been unbeatable for over a year now. They may get a break as Guillermo Barros Schelotto may not be fit enough to go tomorrow. That would be a huge break folks. I think RSL will frustrate the Crew no matter what but their offense still gives me reason to believe they won’t get it done yet again on the road. The Crew still have a quality side that will get the job done even if GBS isn’t there.

WVH Prediction: Columbus 1, RSL 0

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Colorado Rapids – at – DC United:

Two things are constant with these two clubs. DC doesn’t win in Denver and Colorado doesn’t win in DC. Look for that to remain true this weekend. Colorado hasn’t been all that impressive lately while DC is out to prove that they are the best side in the eastern conference this weekend. Let’s not for get the fact that DC is also coming off a bye-week and that they are getting very healthy right now. DC will get the win behind the usual cast of Luciano Emilio and company.I wouldn’t be shocked to see Christian Gomez stick it to his old side in this one as well.

WVH Prediction: DC 3, Colorado 1

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San Jose Earthquakes – at – Chicago Fire:

The Fire really need a pick up kind of game at home and the Quakes may just be their answer. The Fire did however field most of their starters this past week in their SuperLiga semi-final win over New England. I wouldn’t be shocked to see a couple key guys come from the bench in this one to save some legs. Make no doubt about it though, if the Fire struggle to win this one, many will question whether or not if this club will have what it takes to win MLS Cup this season like we all did at the start of the season. A 1-2-4 home record isn’t anything special, and it has to change fast.

WVH Prediction: Chicago 1, San Jose 0

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Sunday:

Chivas USA – at – New England Revolution:

This one could be ugly folks. Neither side is healthy at all and both have been playing some crappy soccer lately. Chivas hasn’t won since early June and New England isn’t doing much better. I think we are seeing the decline of Preki’s side here this summer as we move closer to the All-Star break. I thought SuperLiga would get them back in gear for league play but after last week’s match I didn’t see what I thought I would out of this side. New England gets Shalrie Joseph back and that may just be enough to get three points at home this week.

WVH Prediction: New England 1, Chivas 0

SDM

No Moreno, no GBS, no Ekpo, no Rogers, and no Marshall = no hope to get three points. Also, Mulrooney being out for Houston along with the guys missing because of the Gold Cup is going to make things difficult for the Dynamo. TFC seems to be getting it together. My God, Barrett and Vitti are actually finding the back of the net! TFC-Dynamo is the game of the week for me. Unless you count Seattle-Chelsea.

SDM

No Moreno, no GBS, no Ekpo, no Rogers, and no Marshall = no hope to get three points. Also, Mulrooney being out for Houston along with the guys missing because of the Gold Cup is going to make things difficult for the Dynamo. TFC seems to be getting it together. My God, Barrett and Vitti are actually finding the back of the net! TFC-Dynamo is the game of the week for me. Unless you count Seattle-Chelsea.